1st Generation of Gaming - The Magnavox Odyssey

This was the era that started it all.The era of  home video consoles. Released in August of 1972 the Magnavox Odyssey was the  first ever video game console made by Magnavox. It was and like all other video game consoles, the Magnavox Odyssey is a digital console. The Magnavox uses analog circuitry for the video output because televisions of that time were also analog and using an analog controller. The system could be powered by six C batteries, which were included with an optional power supply that was sold separately. The Odyssey did not have any sound capability. Although it was added later on with the special Pong Systems,  Ralph Baer the creator and designer of this console designed and suggested a sound extension in 1973, but the idea was quickly rejected.

The odyssey uses a printable circuit called a game card. This was inserted into a slot similar to ROM cartridge, used in order to play different games. The different games did not have any different components but on the other hand they used different electrical connections that were located between the pins of the card connector. So each different game was used in order to apply the specific game logic.

This system, being very old, was sold with a translucence plastic overlay in which the consumer would have to literally put on top of their TV screen for them to have some form of color graphics, the downside was that only 2 TV sizes were supported, so if your TV didn't match, tough luck. The overlays could be used multiple times with many games but all have their specific ruling of play.

This console created the first competitive gaming, because it was only to be played between 2 players using 2 controllers. One person controlled one line, and the other person controlled the other. The Odyssey was the beginning of something new that made people interact in a more exciting which eventually made a huge impact on how we view a console today, more than 40 years ago.

Bibliography:
Wikipedia, (2015). Magnavox Odyssey. [online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnavox_Odyssey [Accessed 6 May 2015].

Magnavox-odyssey.com, (2015). Magnavox Odyssey. [online] Available at: http://www.magnavox-odyssey.com/ [Accessed 6 May 2015].

YouTube, (2015). Magnavox Odyssey Table Tennis 1972. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfmL6l128JU [Accessed 6 May 2015].